More medicine and fewer restrictions, New Mexico’s SB8 smells like a winner.

Compassionate modifications to New Mexico’s 10-year-old medical marijuana program, which would automatically permit all veterans of the U.S. military to enroll regardless of their medical condition, passed a key committee vote this week.

Sponsored by Sen. Cisco McSorley (D), Senate Bill 8 would also increase the legal quantity of medicinal cannabis patients can personally possess during any 30-day period to 5 ounces, increase the number of plants legally allowed to be cultivated by marijuana producers, and ban the restriction of products with elevated THC content.

New Mexico SB8

Currently restricted to 8 ounces over a 90-day period and forced to renew their medical marijuana ID card on an annual basis, SB8 would also extend the term of their state-issued cards to three years.

Passed by a 7 to 3 vote in the Senate Judiciary committee on Wednesday, Sen. McSorley’s bill will now be headed to the full Senate for consideration.

In addition to increasing access for Americans veterans, McSorley’s legislation seeks to address New Mexico’s addicts by adding ‘substance abuse disorder’ as a qualifying condition. Testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, Valerie Gremillion, a neuroscientist, explained the efficacy of utilizing medical marijuana to wean individuals from other harmful addictions, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.

“Marijuana is a good way to fight addiction to opioids, methamphetamine, and alcohol. “It’s much less harmful than so many of the other drugs,” she said.

Words of wisdom.